'I was bedbound': Miranda Hart’s agonising 30-year health battle ahead of Celebrity Traitors

'I was bedbound': Miranda Hart’s agonising 30-year health battle ahead of Celebrity Traitors Comedian and actress Miranda Hart is one a of a star-studded line up preparing to take part in the new series of The Celebrity Traitors Comedy star Miranda Hart is set to take a trip into reality TV later this month when she joins a star-studded lineup of contestants in the Celebrity Traitors. The actress, comedian and writer who has won a string of awards for her semi-autobiographical BBC sitcom Miranda, is also known for her roles in Call the Midwife, where she played Camilla "Chummy" Fortescue-Cholmondeley-Browne and as clumsy cleaner Barbara in Not Going Out. She has also written several books, including her autobiography, I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You. And it was in this book that she laid bare the health struggles she had faced since a teenager and which had led to her being bedbound and housebound with chronic fatigue. The star told how she had suffered a "tick-borne illness" while living in Virginia USA when she was 14 or 15 and developed devastating symptoms which had affected her throughout her life. It was only in recent years that she was finally diagnosed with Lyme Disease, a bacterial infection which can spread to humans through a tick bite. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme as her book was launched, she explained that she struggled for years with one health problem after another, including bronchitis, tonsillitis, gastroenteritis, labyrinthitis, as well as blood clots, adrenal fatigue, cysts, and migraines. At one point, she was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, before eventually being diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2020. She told the show that her condition left her so worn out that she was unable to leave her home for a long time. She explained: "Unless you’ve had fatigue [like that], you don’t understand what literally not getting off the floor is. I was basically bed-bound - and house-bound. "There’d be times where I'd look at a glass of water, and think ‘I don’t know how to pick that up'. All anyone wants is to be heard, accepted, loved and seen… and when you’re not - particularly in a medical situation - it’s the worst." And while it can be a difficult condition to treat, the star said the diagnosis was "a relief". She added: "In my case, my level of illness, it was never acute, I wasn’t going to collapse and die of it, luckily. But I kept saying to doctors, I know I’m leading a half-life, I’m leading a very debilitated life, but with no understanding of why. “I think the hardest thing about these sort of fatigue-based conditions, whatever they come from, is that lack of understanding, lack of never knowing when there’s an end date, no management plan.” While still living with the disease, the performer is now preparing to take part in the upcoming series of The Celebrity Traitors which is understood to be starting later in September. While the date has not yet been announced, speaking on a live episode of his podcast, The Rest is Entertainment, Joe Marler, let drop it might be September 23. The star of the first series was asked if he had any advice for new contestants and replied, asking: "What is it, September 23, the next series?" The full lineup of celebrities set to appear, according to the BBC are: - Amol Rajan: Journalist and Broadcaster known for presenting University Challenge and BBC Radio 4's Today programme - Bella Ramsey: Actor best known for their roles in Game of Thrones and as Ellie in the post-apocalyptic drama series The Last of Us - James Acaster: Comedian who currently hosts his podcast 'Off Menu' alongside The Traitors: Uncloaked presenter Ed Gamble - James Blunt: Singer - Jerry Hall: American Model and Actress, and former long term partner of The Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger - Joanne McNally: Irish Comedian McNally co-hosts a podcast called My Therapist Ghosted Me with Vogue Williams - Joe Lycett: Comedian known for his wit, activism and public stunts - Julie Hesmondhalgh: Award-winning actor who recently starred in Mr Bates vs The Post Office and previously Coronation Street - King Kenny: YouTuber and professional boxer - Leigh-Anne Pinnock: Former Little Mix singer turned solo artist - Maya Jama: Broadcaster and the current host of the UK version of Love Island - Michael Sheen: Welsh Actor and Presenter, known particularly for his portrayals of real-life figures like Tony Blair and David Frost - Miranda Hart: Actor of stage and screen who wrote and starred in the sitcom Miranda - Myha'la: American actor known for her role as Harper Stern in the hit series Industry - Professor Hannah Fry: British mathematician, author and broadcaster - Richard E. Grant: Academy Award-nominated actor who recently starred in the movie Saltburn - Rob Beckett: Comedian who frequently appears on A League of Their Own and presents a show with fellow comedian Romesh Ranganathan called Rob and Romesh Vs - Romesh Ranganathan – Comedian who presents his own podcast as well as the TV show Rob and Romesh Vs, alongside fellow Celebrity Traitors star Rob Beckett - Ross Kemp: Actor best known for his role as Grant Mitchell in Eastenders - Sebastian Croft: Heartstopper actor and musician - Sharon Rooney: Scottish actor known for playing Rae Earl in My Mad Fat Diary What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. It's usually easier to treat if it's diagnosed early. Not all ticks in England carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease but it's still important to be aware of ticks and to safely remove them as soon as possible, just in case. Ticks that may cause Lyme disease are found all over the UK, but high-risk places include grassy and wooded areas in southern England and the Scottish Highlands. What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? According to the NHS, one early symptom can be a circular or oval-shaped rash around a tick bite - often called a bullseye rash because of how it appears. The rash can appear up to three months after being bitten by an infected tick, but usually appears within one to four weeks. It can last for several weeks. The rash can have a darker or lighter area in the centre and might gradually spread. It's not usually hot or itchy. It may be flat, or slightly raised, and look pink, red, or purple when it appears on white skin. It can be harder to see the rash on brown and black skin and it may look like a bruise. Some people also get flu-like symptoms a few days or weeks after they were bitten by an infected tick, such as: - a high temperature, or feeling hot, cold or shivery - headache - muscle and joint pain - tiredness and loss of energy